HARARE – The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) has moved to caution some of the country’s excitable politicians against making “reckless” statements that could easily inflame political tensions in the country.
In a statement Tuesday, ZHRC also urged government to guarantee the security of all citizens amid signs of a bloody 2023 elections on the horizon.
“The Commission has noted with great concern recent political statements in the form of political sloganeering and hate speech by some reckless and unscrupulous political actors that have the tendency of disturbing the peace and personal security of other people.
“In its previous public statements, the Commission expressed its aversion to continued churning out of intolerance to diversity through increased incidences of hate speech and incitement to violence as reported then in both social and mainstream media in Zimbabwe,” said the statutory rights watchdog.
Comments by the Commission follow recent death and violence threats made against opponents by politicians from the country’s two main political parties, Zanu PF and CCC amid fears this could trigger fierce hostilities as the country heads for a high-stakes poll.
In June this year, Masimbi Masimbi, a Zanu PF councillor in Nyatsime area outside Chitungwiza, issued a ban on CCC regalia and activists who had thronged the area to mourn their murdered colleague Moreblessing Ali.
He declared the area a Zanu PF territory.
Similarly, Zanu PF deputy youth secretary John Paradza was also accused of making almost similar threats against supporters of the party’s arch-rivals.
CCC legislators Job Sikhala and Godfrey Sithole have been languishing in remand prison since June this year accused of inciting violence.
Quite recently, Abton Mashayanyika, a Zanu PF official, is in the eye of the storm for telling party supporters attending a rally in Mberengwa that opposition CCC leader Nelson Chamisa should face death.
Added ZHRC in its statement, “Threats of violence and/or murder of political opponents, or any person for that matter, are a clear violation of the right to life and right to personal security provided in Sections 48 and 52 of the Constitution respectively.
“Such threats, when taken in the political context, are inciteful and inflammatory in nature with the real danger of degenerating into widespread violence, injuries, loss of life and destruction of property. It is therefore irresponsible and dangerous for political actors to make such careless and hateful pronouncements.”
The rights commission promised to investigate rampant cases of political intimidation in the country.
